With all the hubbub surrounding Zendaya Coleman’s Oscars Faux Locs (and the comments surrounding them), I figured I’d hit up Shelby Swain, the creator of Zendaya’s Academy Awards hairstyle, to talk about the whole process!
The LA native said, “Zendaya just wanted to do something different, something new, and something kind of daring. We came up with doing the faux locs. I think it came out perfect.”
The process, which took 7 hours, required meticulous attention to detail. Swain asserts, “It’s kind of like getting braids. It can take from 4-14 hours, and the hairstyle lasts from 6-8 weeks.” The protective style is a great way to someone to try out a new look, or give locs a go before fully committing.
Regarding Giuliana’s comment, Swain offers, “Some people just don’t understand. Not everybody is going to get her look. Some people are gonna love it and some people are not gonna love it.” She continues, “I knew there’d be critics. The look is not for everybody…for right now. [Zendaya] did it right now, but it may take a while for people to fully understand it and accept it for what it is.”
Swain offers, “Her faux locs were a statement of beauty. The term bohemian chic, I didn’t get that. Bohemian chic is something you kinda throw together, it’s unconventional and relaxed. I didn’t get that whatsoever. Her look was well put together. It was a classic and a deeply rooted look.” Agreed!
At any rate, if you’re interested in trying the look for yourself, contact Shelby at sh*********@ya***.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram @Shelbeniece.
See more of her work below:
Would you try Faux Locs on for size?
No one should have to change their personal style for what society says it should be……but remember there is a time and place for certain things. Her style was o.k. by me.
Zendaya slayed her look. There’s no rule that says “Only hairstyles that the mainstream deem acceptable are allowed on the Oscar red carpet.”
Her hair was gorgeously done and gorgeously styled. Those mf’ers can stay mad.
I’m sorry…. I just can’t. The whole faux-locs trend thing to me is great as a trend but when you start to get all deep and philosophical then that’s where you lose me. every single thing about this girl screamed bohemian chic. it may have taken 7hrs but it most certainly thrown together. Ask my cousin who’s been growing his locs for 13 years and all those ppl Z mentioned in her open letter what it really means to have locs. she did it for shock value and it just so happens that Z, a beautiful girl known for being a style chameleon adopting different personas chose one that resembles something other than what she intended. it’ll be ok girl
I have some now and I love them. I like them smaller but I applaud her for being different
I loved her dreads!!! It’s actually well executed and looks real.
Although Guiliana comments were insensitive and full of ignorance, I don’t believe she was purposely trying to be racist.
Also I want to applaud Zendaya for her response particularly the people she mentioned with dreads who are of well educated and successful backgrounds. But let me just make this clear, for the past year now people have been wearing faux locks as a hairstyle or a trend. As someone who was born and bred in the Caribbean ( Trinidad) we don’t call them dreads we call it Rasta. In our culture it’s not a trend or hairstyle its a lifestyle. Rastafarian is a movement and religion and has such a deep meaning behind it and people who are wearing it as just a trend need to educate themselves on The true meaning. I’m speaking of all races blacks included! For me I grew up with a Rastafarian uncle and aunt so I know first hand what that culture is about and now I see people wearing it as a trend and I’m like do you even know what it symbolizes or you just want to be “different” and “cute”. Anyways my point is everyone is attacking Guiliana for her ignorance but most of the people who are wearing faux locs don’t even know the history behind it either.
Just a little education….Dreads, locs, Rasta etc did NOT start on the Caribbean.
Ummm…. In the Caribbean… If you have locs but doesn’t practice the Rastafarian faith you are considered a dread. A Rasta is a Rasta.
^^^ Sampson (from the bible) had locs
Either way as for the person (which I won’t even mention her name) who made the comments about ZC’s hair. I defended the lady via social media when people were saying she looked like death walking the red carpet at the grammys and then she comes back and make insensitive statements like this. Never AGAIN will I defend her again. WOW!
I have NEVER had my hair braided, I can not sit that long, I’m too impatient lol. Plus I never was interested in this particular look either. I love it on others though and Claire you wear locs well! xoxo
Baby hair’s is Laaid! And calm down @JEG…it is not that deep
Thanks for deleting my comment! But to answer everyone I never said it originated in the Caribbean. So let’s get that straight! I’m speaking to how it translates to ME and my experience in MY family. I said to some people it holds a deeper meaning than just a hairstyle. My Uncke was a Rastafarian so I learned the meaning from him. I also never said people shouldn’t wear dreads if they’re not. There are people who are calling Guiliana racist because she mentioned weed and associated it with people who wear dreads as if that’s why people wear them. As usual people jumping to conclusions just for the sake of being right. Right is right and wrong is wrong and I said she was wrong for her statements and I explained why I saw it as offensive to me. It was my story and I never said that people in the don’t wear “dreads” either. Gosh!
@ MK If it’s not that deep then why is everyone in an uproar??? Clearly it is or this post would not have been made. So I’m explaining why I’m offended by her comments and all of a sudden I’m too “deep” smh dammed if you do and damned if you don’t I guess. #carryon
@Jeg I didn’t delete your comment. We’ve been having issues with Spam, having issues with other people’s names popping up in the comments, this site I tell ya!
Carry on.
So what does It medan in carabean …whats the meanings with rasta ?
These are called silky locs. There are loc extenstions that look like real hair; I BELIEVE Torrei Hart has them. They look very authentic.
Regarding previous comments, I think that far too many people associate locs with Bob Marley, weed, Jamaica, being dirty, etc. and commenters were just giving a reminducation (new word) that locs have way more history than the beautiful islands. Nothing but love…enjoy your day…watch Empire tonight! XOXO
I did not like the look on Zendaya. She has such a small frame, the hair was overwhelming.
Im sorry to be the one to say this but if this had been a person of color that made these comments you all (maybe some) would not be in an uproar. Yes I completely understand that people have the right to be offended and have every right to state their opinions. I just truly feel if this had come from Kevin Hart,Rickey Smiley or Katt Williams everyone would be holding their stomachs from laughter. Im not taking sides but whether you want to admit it or not this is just a joke gone wrong. People need to stop acting as if they dont judge people based off appearance sometimes whether its said out loud or not. Be true to what you feel and stay off the bandwagons! There are REAL, BRAINWASHED, racist living in this world. I feel this is the least of our problems. And please yall dont have to bash me for having a difference in opinion. Im a proud African American woman and to each its own. ! LIVE. LUAGH. LOVE! Stay blessed everyone!
Love natural hair, love locs, hate the look of faux-locs, especially the muti-colored ones, looks so cheap! And yes Z DID look like she smelled of oils, I mean it was the bohemian bridesmaid look she was going for? Just cos people weren’t feeling her look then they must be racist? I mean, can we stop? We as a people tend to say more racist things about other races than any other races does about us, like we feel entitled? e.g “white people can’t dance, white people skin smells, chinese have small p…” and if anyone dared saying half the things we say at loud about black people, they’d get crucified. I mean yes there are loads of racist people but not all are. Per e.g., My friend got offended the other day cos a white man told her she had great moves only a black woman could have. It was the truth. No white woman wines like we do. I mean, CAN – WE – JUST – STOP? Mercy and Merci!
@JEG
“But let me just make this clear, for the past year now people have been wearing faux locks as a hairstyle or a trend…In our culture it’s not a trend or hairstyle its a lifestyle. Rastafarian is a movement and religion and has such a deep meaning behind it and people who are wearing it as just a trend need to educate themselves on The true meaning.”
“For me I grew up with a Rastafarian uncle and aunt so I know first hand what that culture is about and now I see people wearing it as a trend and I’m like do you even know what it symbolizes or you just want to be “different” and “cute”.
Sweetie, THIS is the section of your comment I was referring to. Where you rant as to say “how dare they wear this style and not know it’s Rastafarian roots?!” Again, IT IS NOT THAT DEEP. It’s great to have pride in your heritage, but at the end of the day, this is infact a hairstyle, which can be worn by anyone if they so choose. So you just sound a bit self righteous to me in your delivery. If I somehow misinterpreted your comment, I digress.
Lol @Frieda K – “No white woman whines like we do?” Is it or is it not true that at the same Oscars where Zendaya debuted her very lovely hairstyle, Patricia Arquette – a rich white woman – decided to whine about how blacks and gays need to start fighting for white women’s rights?!!!
Was it not white women who introduced the concepts of “fat shaming,” “hate reading,” “hangry” and various other stupid concepts to describe mild offenses to their very delicate sensibilities. The sneer “white woman’s tears” didn’t come out of nowhere.
But I’m going to go ahead and let you believe in the stoicism of white women for as long as it pleases you to do so.
@POW -Ummm, your error dear. @FriedaK was referring to dancing, not complaining. You inserted an h in “wines”- My friend got offended the other day cos a white man told her she had great moves only a black woman could have. It was the truth. No white woman wines like we do.
Do white women even wine (with the hips, not the lips)? I don’t believe I’ve ever witnessed that…